To repeat an MP4 indefinitely, FFmpeg can publish it to a MediaMTX path with -stream_loop -1. That documented command sends the video to MediaMTX running locally; it is not YouTube’s ingest address. YouTube is a separate step: get the stream URL and key from Live Control Room, then configure an encoder or relay to send a compatible feed to YouTube.
What MediaMTX, FFmpeg, and YouTube each do
FFmpeg reads and repeats the MP4. MediaMTX receives the resulting stream at a configured path. YouTube receives a feed at the stream URL and key shown in Live Control Room. These are separate endpoints and roles: the MediaMTX example destination rtmp://localhost:1935/mystream points to a MediaMTX server on the same machine, not to YouTube.
The official MediaMTX FFmpeg page documents publishing to MediaMTX, while YouTube’s encoder instructions describe sending a feed to YouTube. Those pages do not provide a single official end-to-end MediaMTX-to-YouTube relay command. The steps below therefore cover the documented loop and YouTube setup separately, without presenting an unverified relay command as official configuration.
Loop an MP4 into MediaMTX with FFmpeg
- Install and start MediaMTX. Follow the MediaMTX basic usage guide for your operating system and confirm the server is running. The example below assumes MediaMTX is reachable on the same computer at its default RTMP port.
- Make the MP4 available to FFmpeg. Open a terminal in the file’s folder, or use the full path in place of
file.mp4. - Run the documented publishing command:
ffmpeg -re -stream_loop -1 -i file.mp4 -c copy -f flv rtmp://localhost:1935/mystream
-stream_loop -1asks FFmpeg to repeat the input indefinitely.-rereads the file at real-time pace rather than sending it as fast as possible.-c copycopies the existing audio and video streams instead of re-encoding them.-f flvselects the container used for this RTMP publishing example.rtmp://localhost:1935/mystreamis the local MediaMTX RTMP destination, withmystreamas the path. It is not YouTube’s server address.
MediaMTX also documents publishing with RTSP, and describes RTSP as its recommended FFmpeg method. Choose a protocol that your MediaMTX setup and the next component in your workflow can both use; see Publish with FFmpeg for the documented protocol examples. MediaMTX’s RTMP clients page covers RTMP publishing and reading paths.
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Configure YouTube Live as a separate destination
- In YouTube Studio, open Live Control Room and create or select the stream. YouTube’s encoder setup instructions explain how to obtain the stream URL and key.
- In the encoder that will send the feed to YouTube, enter the URL and key from Live Control Room. Treat the key as a credential; do not publish or share it.
- If you choose encrypted RTMP transport, reveal and use YouTube’s RTMPS address from the lock icon in the stream settings. YouTube recommends RTMPS; see Encrypt your stream using RTMPS.
- Start sending the feed and wait for the Live Control Room preview. Check the preview and stream health before selecting Go live.
The MediaMTX command above only publishes to MediaMTX. You still need a configured component that reads or relays the MediaMTX stream and sends it to YouTube’s URL and key. The cited MediaMTX and YouTube pages do not specify that complete bridge configuration, so the exact relay setup depends on the tools and topology you choose.
Match the feed to YouTube’s encoder requirements
YouTube’s published encoder settings vary by codec, resolution, and frame rate. For RTMP or RTMPS, its listed video codecs are H.264, H.265 (HEVC), and AV1; audio can use AAC or MP3. YouTube recommends constant bitrate encoding, up to 60 fps, and a two-second keyframe interval, with intervals no longer than four seconds. Consult the current YouTube encoder settings, bitrates, and resolutions table and choose the bitrate row matching the actual codec, resolution, and frame rate you send. A bitrate detached from those settings is not a reliable target.
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The MediaMTX sample uses -c copy, so it does not change codecs, bitrate, resolution, frame rate, or keyframe interval. An MP4 file is a container and does not by itself establish that its tracks meet YouTube’s chosen ingest profile. Inspect the file’s audio and video codecs and validate the resulting preview and stream health. Re-encoding may be needed when the source tracks do not match the intended YouTube settings; the exact conversion depends on the source file and selected profile.
Test the loop and monitor the live stream
- Test with representative movement and audio before relying on the stream. YouTube recommends checking the preview, stream health, and the audio/video quality during the event; its streaming tips cover these checks.
- Confirm the MP4 actually loops at the end and that audio remains acceptable across the file boundary.
- Keep Live Control Room open long enough to notice health warnings or a missing preview before selecting Go live.
- YouTube says streams shorter than 12 hours are automatically archived when ended. Do not assume an indefinitely long stream will be archived as one continuous video.
Common problems and fixes
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| FFmpeg cannot connect to the destination | MediaMTX is not running, is not reachable at the configured host and port, or is not accepting RTMP on that path. | Confirm MediaMTX is running and that the command’s destination matches its configuration. The localhost example only works when MediaMTX is reachable on the same machine. |
| YouTube does not show a preview | The encoder or relay is not sending to the URL and key from the selected Live Control Room stream, or the relay between MediaMTX and YouTube is not configured. | Check the YouTube destination credentials and verify that the component reading MediaMTX is actually sending a feed to YouTube. |
| Video or audio is rejected or unhealthy | The source tracks may not match the codec or ingest settings you selected; stream copying does not fix a mismatch. | Inspect the source codecs, compare output settings with YouTube’s current table, and test again. Re-encode only if the source is incompatible with the selected profile. |
| The stream plays too quickly | The real-time input pacing option may be missing. | Use the documented command with -re before the input. |
| The video stops after one playthrough | The input repeat option may be missing or set differently. | Use -stream_loop -1 to request indefinite repetition. |
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